Origin

A word that came from Latin aequus, which is also at the root of adequate (early 17th century), equable (mid 17th century), equanimity (early 17th century), equate (Middle English), equity (Middle English), equivalent (Late Middle English) ‘of equal worth’, equator (Late Middle English) the circle where day and night are equal, iniquity (Middle English), and, via French, egalitarian (late 19th century). George Orwell's political satire Animal Farm ( 1945) is the source of the quotation ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.’ Another historic use of equal is from the American Declaration of Independence ( 1776): ‘We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ See also first